Base Child-Care Worker Won’t Be Prosecuted

A Point Mugu child-care worker suspected of molesting a toddler will not face criminal charges, ending a five-month federal investigation into the allegation that rattled parents and employees at the sprawling Navy base.

The civilian employee, who has been on paid leave since the complaint surfaced in March, now faces an administrative review by the base’s commanding officer to determine his future employment on base, a Navy spokeswoman said.

“We can put him back in his job, he could be put in another job or we could terminate him,” the spokesman said. “All of those are options.”

The decision not to pursue criminal charges came after a team of 40 federal investigators swarmed Point Mugu to interview other children and co-workers at Point Mugu’s Child Development Center. Prosecutors spent months reviewing a thick report that detailed the agents’ findings.

“We examined it very carefully and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to go forward,” said Assistant U.S. Atty. Patricia Donahue. “We are not going to seek an indictment.”

The child-care worker, whose name has not been released, could not be reached for comment. But defense attorney Howard Beckler said he was “tickled” that the government mounted such an extensive effort that cleared his client.

“A child said something that alarmed his parents and triggered this massive 40-man investigation,” Beckler said. “What they came up with was a single, solitary complaint about a man who has worked with children for over 12 years and who had never had another complaint against him.”

Beckler praised investigators for interviewing all 87 children at the Child Development Center. “Their direction was to satisfy the parents,” he said. “This is a case where you don’t want lingering doubts.”

Beckler said he believes his client will be allowed to continue working at Point Mugu but will be transferred to a job other than child care.

The Child Development Center, which has operated on base for more than 20 years, provides care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. The center was set up primarily for children of military officials, but the children of civilian workers can use the center if space is available.

Maureen Wilson, director of the Point Mugu Child Development Center, said she and her co-workers are relieved the matter is over. She declined further comment.

When the allegation surfaced in March, it caused a wave of anger and panic among parents and family members of children attending the center.

“Once they dropped the bomb on the family, it was absolute chaos,” said one family member, recalling when Navy officials broke the news. “There was a lot of outrage and a lot of anger.”

The Navy immediately brought in a special eight-member Child Abuse Response Team from San Diego to counsel parents and family members and assist with the investigation.

Investigators soon broadened the scope of the probe beyond the preschool to an after-school program for older children and to homes where the suspect provided baby-sitting for base employees.

But the investigators’ report to the U.S. attorney remained focused on the single allegation of molestation involving one child, described as 3 to 4 years old, federal agents said.

No one witnessed any sexual abuse, they said, and there was no physical evidence that would stand up in court to support the child’s assertion.